Due to bad planning, I had to cancel a camp that I had signed up BM for. So, got the $160 (partial) refund and decided to use it for Monterey this weekend.

Worked out. Spent $155, to be exact. About $100 for the admission (4), $15 to park, and $40 to eat lunch there.

We could have maybe gone cheaper on lunch, but dh's Grandma slipped him $40 to splurge. Ironically, lunch was $40 about exactly - we considered it a treat from her.

Thus, we really only spent $115!

There was gas and all that too. But we drive around the state enough, we won't really notice the gas. That's already in the monthly budget.

Um, last year we had stayed in Monterey a night and made more of a vacation of it. We decided it wasn't really necessary this time, but had plans Saturday so didn't make it to the aquarium until Sunday. The part I didn't think through was the almost 4 hours to get home, since we had to get home Sunday night. There was little difference in crowd on a May Saturday vs. Sunday (I hate crowds, but it was pleasant enough). So, I suppose cutting out the night stay was fine. Next time we will go on a Saturday though, and crash with a Grandma before heading home. As such, we felt rushed - no time to go out to eat by the ocean, grab ice cream, window shop, etc.

Personally, I'd be fine to crash, wake up before dawn, and drive home Monday morning. I have done it many times in the past. The kids would probably even be fine with it. But to the night owl dh, this plan would be a nightmare. So, we got home quite late last night.

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Visiting with the fam was, interesting...

My Grandma is doing much better and I talked to her on the phone. She practically begged me to bring the kids to come visit her. Oy vey. I think I had to impose myself to bring BM to meet her, a couple of years back. She did not want us to come, at all. BUT, in the end it was a really pleasant trip. I am sure this is what swayed her. BM and her got along quite well.

So, she REALLY wants to meet LM, after her recent "near death" experience. This is fine, but he can be a bit of a difficult personality, and I am not thinking it would go so well. She also wants me to bring BM. I suppose I could travel all alone, with the kids, to save a few bucks. But I don't really look forward to it. I think it would be worth the 4th plane ticket for dh - the only added cost of having some adult company/help.

Of course, MIL has insisted we go to Hawaii for our anniversary, for about 10 days (no complaints here!) AND I took a few days off with dh's surgery. Plus I got some attitude about that from a co-worker, who is now gone. It's really none of her business and I probably shouldn't worry about it. My boss is very low key and flexible. But with the economy and all, I don't want to push it either. I have taken advantage in past years, and I don't want to be perceived to get special treatment, or people to think I demand extra time off every year, either.

It's a pickle, but I think I will work it out. We would probably go on a Thursday night and come back on a Sunday. To Colorado. A quick trip. I could work the weekend before to avoid using any vacation time. That, my boss doesn't care about. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for one non-vacation day off, if I make it up. It's not like dh's surgery was some super fun time!

I've never really been in a position to spend money "now or never," but this would be the time. My Grandma's health has been going downhill, and we feel we should go as soon as possible.

Ironically, we aren't very close. But even my "could care less/not so nice" Grandma came around with age. Like, she wanted nothing to do with me, and suddenly around 18 she wanted to act all interested in my life. I am closer to my Grandma than probably any other faraway relative, and I think she wants a little more time as the end draws near. She suddenly is much more excited about her only great-grandchildren, that is for sure.

Not the wisest financial choice, but we will do it. I just think this is the first time I have ever been in this kind of position. A "screw the money" type position.

OF course, my mom has offered to pay our way, but that just feels ultra weird considering their current financial situation and the fact that they aren't going with us. Will see. Maybe we can compromise with 50/50.

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OF course, then yesterday my dad tells me he wants to take the kids and I to Japan in a couple of years. Maybe even dh. This is very awesome and generous, while overwhelming all the same.

Particularly since dh has a relative in Asia, and then he brings up it might make since to plan that "eventual" Asia trip and combine it with a trip to Japan.

Of course, all I Could think, was my dad really going to take us, and not my sister? How is that going to fly? (She is crazy in love with Japan). I hadn't even thought about her husband, which dh brought up to me later.

Of course, for dh's family Asia trip, he has a much bigger extended family that may want to go along.

I have a headache thinking about it. & while there is no way we could justify such a trip, financially, I would feel obligated to contribute a few thousand dollars if we did go.

This means, I should probably sit on all my vacation time next year, and we shouldn't go anywhere, at all, to hoarde up some cash for this wild trip.

*sigh*

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I think this whole thing kind of touches at the edge of why I don't like to travel. I suppose if time and money was unlimited, I could get into it a little more. But honestly, I like to use my 3 weeks vacation time every year, to buy 3-day weekends and flexibility. This means, I can generally take time off whenever I Want, and we do a fair amount of 3-day-weekend type stuff. But the commitment of one big trip means I can't get 5 minutes off the rest of the year. Ugh! No wonder people hate the rat race. I can't stand that, either. I usually don't identify because I am totally happy to stay close to home, and buy flexibility with my vacation time.

Anyway, I generally rather buy myself flexibility, than go on big trips every year. A big trip is fine once every few years, as far as I am concerned.

Anyway, dh's mom is WAY into travel and these giant family trips. What is unusual is finding my dad in the same boat. I didn't really know this side to his personality. I never saw it when he was a working stiff. But now, he has all the time in the world.

So, I Feel totally blessed to have so many travel opportunities, and yet overwhelmed at the same time.

I told dh, part of me says "screw it," we should humor all of our elders while they are still around. The other side of me just wonders if they all live a really long time. Dropping everything to go wherever everyone wants us to, isn't terribly practical for the long run, is all. But I suppose for now, we will just go with it, a bit.